One night only lock-out relaxation for Mardi Gras

The NSW government is likely to knock back a push to open bars and pubs in the inner city for extended late night trading in the week prior to Mardi Gras.

The appeal to wind back the lock-out laws for the week follows the suspension of the lock-out laws for the one night of Mardi Gras last year.

Sydney's rainbow crossing has been re-painted on Bourke Street, near Taylor Square and Oxford Street, in the lead-up to Mardi Gras.Credit:Nick Moir

Christine Forster, the Liberal City of Sydney councillor, and the independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich have both called for a suspension of the lock-out laws for the week before Mardi Gras, to help capitalise on the influx of visitors to the city.

But the appeal is likely to fall on deaf ears, with last year's one-night exemption set to be repeated this year.

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“Given the success of the exemption last year I have been asking them to drop it all together,” said Cr Forster. “But 100 per cent I would support a week's exemption if that's all we can get.”

City of Sydney councillor Christine Forster and her wife Virginia Edwards at Mardi Gras.Credit:60 Minutes

In a letter last year to the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, Cr Forster wrote that there was “no doubt” that a circuit breaker was needed to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence in the inner city. “The introduction of the lockout laws has clearly provided this.”

But she said that the lifting of restrictions for the night of the 2018 Mardi Gras parade proved a boon for Darlinghurst buinesses, with no reported increase in alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

“It is my firm view and that of many business owners in the City of Sydney that the lock- out laws have served their purpose and that it would now be safe to allow late night venues to remain open and accessible after 1:30am,” Cr Forster wrote to the Premier.

The independent Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, wrote to the Minister for Racing, Paul Toole, and the Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall, last month asking for the one week suspension of the laws, at least around Oxford Street.

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is being held on Saturday, March 2, so any government decision on an easing of drinking and trade restrictions would be needed soon.

The city is preparing for an influx of visitors for the parade on Saturday, March 2. Last year, the lock-out laws were relaxed for one night. Credit:Nick Moir

“Small businesses in this precinct service the large numbers of visitors for Mardi Gras and this is a vital part of their business year,” Mr Greenwich wrote in his letter.

“I share their concern that lockout and last drink provisions should be removed in recognition that the Mardi Gras parade and festival is a safe and inclusive event that contributes to NSW.”

A spokesman subsequently told the Herald: “no decision has yet been made on lockout exemptions.”

However, it is understood that the government will almost certainly reject the push for a one-week exemption.

The idea coincides with increased pressure from some politicians and industry groups for the government to wind back the laws or introduce measures to bolster the late-night economy.

Independents and minor parties in the NSW lower house, who could be empowered in the event of a tight vote in the March poll, are increasingly of the view the lock-out laws should be wound back.

The spokesman for the Keep Sydney Open political party, Tyson Koh, wants the laws reversed.

“Unfortunately with this state government we’ve been forced into the dichotomy of safety or vibrancy. We’ve been saying this for years - you can have both."

Night Time Industries Association chairman Michael Rodrigues said the late-night economy policies from the government and Labor - neither of which included a reversal of the lockouts - were "recognition that we have a problem but these are very much first steps".

"We need a vision statement from the government, backed by a 100 per cent commitment to fixing this. That includes putting someone in charge inside government who has the clout to make things happen."